I'm back

How do you like my dining room table now?

Hey - so first off, an apology.

I've been away from this blog for too long. I've still been obsessively and creepily checking my page views, and I can see many of you are still checking this site. I've neglected you. You've come back and I've been off galavanting. I've been ignoring you, my fine beer brethren (I stole that line).

I've been off travelling the world of craft beer - making my own discoveries - and keeping it to myself. I've been kissing and not telling.

And for that, I apologize. And I promise, I'm back.

So where have I been? Where HAVEN'T I been? I've been to Quebec and back-a fine adventure into the wonderful world of les micros.

I've been to New York City (same thing there).

Mostly, I've been working. You see, after many years as an in-house writer/editor/communications dude, I took the plunge and started my own writing/editing business. And despite my wild fantasies of sitting around, blogging and sampling beer in my underpants all day long, I've been working. Hard. (Editor's note: to be clear, the beer is not IN my underpants in this fantasy, but I am drinking beer WHILE in my underpants.)

It's been great, the best decision I could have made. But it's kept me away. I'm stable enough on my feet now though to return to the blog. And the time is perfect, what with Toronto Beer Week right around the corner.

So I will return, soon, with a post about that. In the meantime, my apologies for this half-post. Most of all, my apologies for being away.

Thanks for still being here.

Shameless plug: Need a writer or editor????? check out my site: pierrelachaine.ca

Spearhead "beer of the summer" proclaims self-deprecating dufus.

Good beer should take us places in our minds. But in a good way (I'm looking squarely at you, Mr. Colt 45).

It should also take us back in time, dig up old memories, hopefully fond. And help us enjoy the present, root us where we are. It should also allow us to look forward, and imagine a better and brighter future for ourselves.

For me, Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale does all of these things.

First: the past. About a year ago, Hawaiian Pale Ale (HPA) was all over town on draft. Spearhead was the new kid in town. A small, brash upstart Toronto brewing company with cool marketing and branding shelling a pineapple tinged india pale ale. The beer itself was brash too - hoppy. boozy. 6.5% alcohol that felt like both a whole lot more and a whole lot less at the same time.

I liked it a lot. In fact, I converted more than one person to craft beer with it. It was my secret weapon.

And then, I'm embarrassed to admit, I let myself get swayed by the anti-marketing whisper campaign. More than one "beer folk" I spoke to rolled their eyes when they mentioned Spearhead. I'd no idea why. But I took on the same attitude. When some beer newbie mentioned that they liked Spearhead, I judged them in my brain-space. "Aren't they cute," I condescended to myself.

But here's the catch about Spearhead, and here's what I realized one day as I was judging others: It's a very good beer. Forget the hype. Forget the brand. Forget the marketing. It doesn't matter. Spearhead HPA is a very good beer. And it's worth a try.

In fact, here's my fearless prediction: Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale will be my beer of the summer.

Now to the present: It's coming to the lcbo. Like, soon. If not in time for the coming long weekend (probably not) then soon afterwards. The version coming to the lcbo, to my palate, tastes less boozy, with a bit more pineapple up front, than the version I had on tap last year. It's also listed at 6%, down from last year's 6.5%. It's less big, but it's more summer-worthy. More refreshing. If you haven't tried it: It's an American Pale Ale, bordering on an India Pale Ale (remember those bitter citrus hops balanced with caramel/cookie malts I'm always going on about, but with a twist of pineapple.)

And to the future...

To me, it's as simple as this: Spearhead makes good beer. And that's what we need in Ontario: more good beer. And the more good beer we have, the more good beer we will have. And if we encourage this brash upstart, and help them to be successful, then that will hopefully encourage others to brashly get upstarted. After all, status quo begets status quo. And in Ontario, for too long, status quo has been pretty damn boring. And you can't have too much good beer, that's for sure.

Picture this: Craft Beer Heaven: The Highly Anticipated Sequel.

Hi.

It’s been awhile. Sorry.

To be honest, I’ve been pretty uninspired on the beer front lately. The lcbo summer feature arrived but, as expected, it didn’t really push any of my many buttons (in a good way.) It underwhelmed me. In fact, it whelmed well under my already very modest expectations.

The Phillips Ginger Beer is good. Very ginger (but in a good, not creepy, way). Not complex, but straightforwardly refreshing on the hot, hot days, or the steamy sushi nights.

Also: the Tree Brewing Feature arrived. My favourite there is the Deviator Doppelbock (Unfortunately I haven’t seen their Double Hop Head IPA make a comeback as part of this release.)

Anyhoo – still some cool things happening. Hops and Robbers is here, apparently, but I haven’t come across it yet, so I can’t vouch. And Spearhead is coming soon. woot.

I was thinking the other day (for the millionth time) of beers that aren’t in the lcbo but that I wish were. Here was my quick list:

Sawdust City Long Dark Voyage to Uranus Imperial Stout

Amsterdam Tempest Imperial Stout

Black Oak 10 Bitter Years Double IPA

Cameron’s Rye Pale Ale

Great Lakes No Chance with Miranda Saison (or, really, any of their farmhouse ales.)

Great Lakes Lake Effect or Karma Citra IPA (And, I’ll take this opportunity to ask how, in the name of Gambrinus, does Great Lakes, makers of some of the best IPAs I’ve ever had, not make a year round, lcbo available IPA. HOW?)

Anyway, reading over this list makes me thirsty, and a little teary eyed with glee and pride at our luck in Ontario. 

It also infuriates me. Imagine what COULD be. Imagine a liquor store with local imperial stouts and double IPAs and saisons, etc. Want. Want. Want.      

But, for now, we’ll have to settle for buying these at pubs. Which brings me to my next point. It’s father’s day this weekend, and also the kickoff to Ontario Craft Beer Week. What will you all be up to? I think I’ll be hitting up the East Side Toronto beer crawl. Starts on Tuesday at 7 pm at Sarah’s on the Danforth, then off to Morgan’s, the Only Café and Brass Taps. The first three I frequent often, the fourth I’ve yet to visit. Should be lots of fun – Beau’s, Muskoka and Great Lakes will be participating.

BREAKING: Oh yeah, almost forgot: A little birdie told me that there’s a Black Oak mixed pack coming to the lcbo sometime soon. Dunno when. But it will have one 10 Bitter Years, one Summer Saison, one Pale Ale, and one Nut Brown. THIS is big news. Maybe my dream isn’t so far off after all. Please, take my word for it, and buy this when it comes out. The Saison and 10 Bitter Years are 2 of my faves, and if we scoop em all up, people will see there’s a market for them.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

So, folks, what Ontario craft beers would YOU like to see in the lcbo that aren't there already? And what are you all up to for fathers day and OCB week? Beer dads unite!

Welcome to my BBQ: have a dark, thick chocolatey Great Lakes porter

I know what you're going to be thinking at 5:01 this afternoon (or 3:01 if your bosses are awesome), when you're unleashed into the sunshine for three blissful days:

"Dude, MAY 2-4."

then:

"Bro, gotta get some beers."

(stop at beer store/lcbo)

then:

"Dude, lager city!"

then:

"Maybe something with limes in it?"

then:

"If I put them in the freezer the minute I get home, they'll be cold enough for my BBQ on Sunday, then it's time to C-H-I-L-L with my boyz/girlz and some tunes and some cold brews, y'all."

I'm here, obnoxious dude/dudette, to present to you an alternative scenario.

Follow the above steps, but stop right before "Dude, lager city." Don't say that, it's annoying.

Be at the lcbo. And do something that may sound absolutely ridiculous: Buy a Great Lakes Robust Porter. This is what it looks like:

Pretty, right? Gorgeous, even. That's one classy looking bottle.

Here's what I'm thinking: buy a bunch of your usual Ontario craft beers (that's what you usually buy, right?) Maybe a Muskoka Mad Tom, a great choice. Perhaps a Neustadt Lager (just don't freeze it). For sure some Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA (new to the lcbo, and I'll take more about it in my next post). Whatever your little heart desires.

Then, put a few Robust Porters in your overflowing basket.

But, bro, you ask? Why? It's chill outside weekend. I just want to sit in the sun with some lite brews.

There are a few reasons:

1. Because it's around now. And it's in limited quantities and it won't be around forever. DO NOT miss your chance at this seriously good beer. And buy a few extra, and store em for the fall, when the weather cools down.

2. Because it's rare that we get good, risk taking local beers like this at the lcbo. And if we collectively buy all these bottles quickly, it's sending a message to a) the breweries that there's a market for things that are outside the norm, and b) the lcbo, that local beers that are outside the norm will sell and to please allow us to have more.

Eventually, this weekend, at some point, unless it's the end of days, the sun will go down. And you'll still be sitting outside, but with a light jacket on. And, after a day outside drinking lagers, you'll be in the mood for something different. And that's when you'll remember. You'll go get the classy bottle of Robust Porter, and you'll fiddle your way with the wax. And you'll impress your friends with the classy bottle. And you'll pour yourself a responsibly sized glass. And you'll do the same for whichever friends are still hanging around. And you'll cheers to an awesome weekend, and to an awesome beer that hits just the spot once the sun goes down. There's a beer for every occasion, and this is that beer and that occasion. And don't say I'll buy it later, it won't be around later. Buy it now. Go. Go at lunch. Just go.

But, what does it taste like?

Great Lake 25th Anniversary Robust Porter

Briefly: Huge head. Pitch black colour. Smell of roast coffee and chocolate. Taste: Sharp taste. some bitter. chocolate and coffee.

If you want to read more about it, The Toronto Star's Josh Rubin had a nice piece on it here:
http://www.thestar.com/living/food/drinks/article/1178762--great-lakes-brewery-s-anniversary-brew-is-dark-and-aromatic-what-s-brewing

...And to find it, visit lcbo.ca and type in Robust Porter. It's the only one.

Summer Preview: Go local

Ahhhh.... the bland nondescript summerscape....

So the lcbo announced their summer release. And here it is...

Lindeman's Cuvee Rene / 5.5% / 355 ml / $6.45
Dieu du Ciel Rosée d'Hibiscus / 5.9% / 4 x 341 ml / $11.85
Phillips Ginger Beer / 5% / 650  ml/ $5.15
Schneider Nelson Sauvin / 6.9% / 750 ml / $8.95
Weihenstephan Kristallweissbier / 5.4% / 500 ml / $3.10
Ayinger Brau-Weisse / 5% / 500 ml / $3.45
Schneider Hopfen Weisse / 8.2% / 500 ml / $3.25
Birrificio del Ducato Nuova Mattina (New Morning) Saison / 5.8% / 330 ml / $4.15
Thornbridge Kipling South Pacific Pale Ale / 5.2% / 500 ml/ $4.75
Celt Golden Crafted Ale / 4.2% / 500 ml / $3.50
Fuller's Organic Honey Dew / 5% / 500 ml / $3.25
BrewDog Punk IPA / 6.2% / 330 ml/ $2.60
Shipyard Smashed Blueberry / 9% / 625 ml / $7.95

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this list. If you ask me, which you did by coming to this site, it's a GREAT list (yay!)... If you like German style wheat beers (meh!). CLOVES! BANANAS! WHEAT! EASY DRINKING! You can find out more about these individual beers by plugging in their names into beeradvocate.com.

I'm psyched about two of these: New Morning (a Saison at the lcbo. woot.) and Lindeman's Cuvee Rene. Otherwise, it's a pretty bland lineup, particularly after the last few stellar releases. That said, it IS summer, and people want to quaff* sessionable* beers in the sun. so let them have their wheat beer. I'll be saving my pennies for what I'm REALLY excited about: the slew of new Ontario craft beers that'll be hitting the lcbo shelves this summer. Why do I need German beer to quaff* my sessions* with, when Ontario is starting to have all I need. Plus: they're fresher. And even more Plus: They're NOT wheat beers. Hopefully, as more and more Ontario craft beers are available to us, the seasonal releases, which generally are from Germany, England, Belgium, etc (bee tee dubs: more from Belgium please, lcbo.), will serve to complement the local stuff. We're not there yet, but I sure hope we will be soon. Anyway, about the stuff I'm excited about:

Expected imminently:

Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA should be hitting the lcbo shelves this week. Note: This is one awesome IPA - one of the top available to us. I want. Bad. Hurry up, Mr. Boneshaker. (edit note: this beer started arriving at lcbos this week).

Great Lakes Robust Porter: I mentioned my excitement at this in a past post. I've heard it'll be out in the next few weeks. Waiting patiently... (edit note: this beer has started arriving at lcbos this week too, but in very limited quantities so hurry!)

Also expected at some point this summer:

Kensington's Augusta Ale - I've heard June...

Nickelbrook Naughty Neighbour Pale Ale - Not sure when...

Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale - I've heard Canade Day

Double Trouble's Hops & Robbers IPA - not sure

I'll write more about these in the future, closer to when they come out, but this is all just to say that, if you want some quaffing* sessions*, more and more, you'll be able to do it with great local beer this summer. Give them all a try. You may not end up liking them all, but you won't know unless you give them a shot, and these local craft breweries need to be supported. We're headed in the right direction, and that direction isn't from Europe to boat to Canada, it's from brewery to belly.

*I sincerely apologize for using the two most pretentious, annoying, non-sensical and overused words in beer geekdom: "quaff" and "sessionable." If you ever hear me say these words out loud, you reserve the right to dip your finger in my beer, and then poke me in the eye with it, and then call me a weiner one time. I'll use them on this site, however, because a) it's hilarious, and b) you can't reach my beer/eye through the internet.